Internet Access in the David Lawrence Convention Center
ANTHROCON DEALER Access (Exhibit Hall B only)
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Anthrocon has been granted permission for Tigerden Internet Services to set up a wireless access point in Hall B for use by Anthrocon Dealers ONLY.
There is no charge for this service to registered Dealers.
This service is intended for use by dealers who need access necessary to conduct their business. Such use includes access to PayPal or credit card authorization services to process payments. It is not intended for casual browsing, streaming media (e.g. YouTube, Hulu, etc.), or file transfer beyond immediate business needs.
Details and sign-up for this service will be available at the Dealer Registration Desk located within Hall B during designated open hours.
Dealers may, of course, also choose to use the General Public paid access provided by DLCC as descibed below.
General Public Access
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There is NO free public wireless access provided by the DLCC.
DLCC has paid wireless available throughout the building which is provided by their ISP contractor.
The cost for access varies according to location as follows:
- Most public areas, and pre-function spaces.
$15 for 24 hours.
This is the 'general public' access for casual users.
- Exhibit Halls A, B, and C.
$100 for 24 hours.
This is intended for commercial convention exhibitors.
- Exhibit Halls A, B, and C.
Either service is publicly available to anyone willing to pay the designated cost for the service they choose. Sign-up and payment are done online when first attempting to connect to the service.
Signals from the cheaper service MAY be accessible from some locations within the Exhibit Halls, but this is NOT assured. Likewise, the Exhibit Hall service signals may be accessible in areas nearby but outside the halls.
Because of the disparity in cost, and the fact that signals for a particular service may not be available, or may overlap, in some areas, users are urged to BE CERTAIN which service they are connecting to.
DLCC does not prohibit use of or block personal cell phone or individual wireless broadband (EVDO/3G) Internet connections. However, they make no guarantee of outside cell tower signal access from within the building. Experience has shown that various services available from Sprint, Verizon, and AT&T are generally available; but, as with any cellular service, good
signals may be highly location dependent.
Do you happen to know what the internet policy for the Westin lobby is? The most information I could find was for the rooms.
The Westin normally has a free, low-speed wireless access point available in the lobby. However, it's been quickly overwhelmed during Anthrocon, and they have been known to shut it off.
The Westin is very concerned about lobby crowding, so you shouldn't expect to hang out there for net access regardless. This is another reason the access point there likely will not be regularly available.
Tigerden's Internet Den, just on the floor above next to the Zoo, will be open 24/7, and that's intended for people to use. It's free.
If you have special needs, talk to the Tigerden System Operator on duty and they'll try to help you out.
I've had good service in the past with AT&T and my iPhone (so you can use Square or Mophie's service), but remember that a good portion of us have iPhones too, and may have the newest one (depending on what Steve Jobs say in 14 days). YMMV.
Bless you... you have no idea how much this is Appreciated. 
"Thank You."
Speaking as someone who knows from experience, I can tell you that Tigerwolf is a life-saver, providing reliable internet access at various conventions (including Furry Fiesta!) for years and years now. There's a reason he was our Guest of Honor in 2010. 
Well I think this will be the first year that we see how Verizon Droid users fare with signals at the con. Hopefully it's good though, I figure I'll just use that to keep up with developments as they happen.
EDIT: Sprint LIED TO ME. D: There's no WiMAX coverage in Pittsburgh yet. It's on the list of cities being built out, but it won't be available for Anthrocon.
I'm not sure who you talked to, but since we use Sprint, I've contacted them several times about using WiMax/G4 or whatever they're currently calling their new, faster data service. I've consistently been told it's not yet in Pittsburgh...that as recently as last week.
I'm anxious to upgrade as well, as the speed improvement would be nice, IF there's sufficient signal at places we need it. Also, the supposed lack of caps on usage is important as well. However, there's little point in getting expensive new hardware until we can actually *use* it. Once a con is in the service area, I'm hoping to rent a data card to test it out, and if it performs, will upgrade our connectivity.
=^_^= Tigerwolf
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